Sunday, May 31, 2009

This cute little guy and a variety of others can be yours free with a purchase of $50 or more during the month of June from Clear Dollar Stamps. He's so much fun to play with - I had a hard time choosing what I was going to do.

As I've said in my previous posts - every month the DT are given challenges. This month, one of our cards had to be a shaped card (could not be square or rectangle in shape). My first thought was "YIKES!!! - I can't do that". But I kept on thinking.... and thinking... and thinking. I had a different idea than this but I was talking with Kim one day and she gave me this idea (can I just say how great it is to have your best friend on the same design team). I thought how perfect and then the thinking began again as to how I was going to accomplish this. So out came my craft knife and different shades of green paper and I began randomly cutting curvy lines to make the grass look like it is being blown in the wind. I ended up layering 4 colors to achieve this look. My "rock" was some Basic Gray cardstock from SU that I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Pebbles embossing Folder which I then sponged, covered in Versamark and embossing powder to give it a wet look. The turtle has been popped up on dimensionals. All in all, I LOVE how this card turned out and am thinking a shaped card might be in the works every month (notice the might - I didn't say it would be).

This second card was completely a result of the DP chosen. I love how it turned out! I'm really liking the Lime Rickey collection from Basic Grey. It's fun and youthful and so vibrant. I kept the card really simple and made a little tag with the "What shell I do without you?" sentiment. Like the flower on top of the turtle? It's just one of many things you can use with the turtle in this set. Way too cute I tell ya.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Charlie's back and he's better than ever. I just love this guy! I swear I'll eventually own all the Charlies. He's so much fun and easy to color. Each set is unique in its' own way. I love how this one is perfect for so many occasions - especially with the sentiments that come along with it.

Each month, as a design team, we're given challenges and I made this one into a two for one deal. Yeah!!! You have to love when you can combine things to make one amazing card. This is for both the Inspiration challenge (one of our choices was a bedding set that was neutral in color with beige and black) as well as the sketch challenge. I found this DP at my LSS and fell in love with it - I was determined to use it on one of my cards this month. This is the first time I've colored Charlie in anything other than brown tones but I really like how he turned out. I'm surprised by the simplicity in this card - I love it!

Charlie is always one of the first sets I start with each month - he inspires me! I've had this "cowboy" DP for over a year and never had any use for it (I've got it in pink tones for girls too) - should I mention my DP addiction? As soon as I saw this stamp set, I knew I had to use this DP - I really like how it turned out. Vibrant yet so understated. Notice anything about this card??? No bling! I wanted to get it on there but the image speaks for itself and I wanted to keep the focus simple.

Friday, May 29, 2009

I'm a girly girl in every sense of the word but when I saw Motorcycle Mania I thought - how fun!!!! It's a great set for anyone who has a motorcyclist in the family or a wannabe biker. I wanted to challenge myself with a masculine set - which I think I've done. The first card came together quite nicely. I'm just starting to use Tombow Markers... and can I say I NEED them all now! I'm slowly accumulating them from Clear Dollar Stamps. Sooner or later, they'll all be mine. Believe it or not - this card took quite a few turns. I had totally different paper picked out but when I finished coloring my image in a very vibrant blue - I realized the DP didn't match so I started searching for more DP. I eventually found this paper but then the color of blue I had used needed to be toned down a bit and out came my Not Quite Navy Marker (from SU). I really like how it came together - and what guy card would be complete without some sparkly silver brads and ribbon. Hehe - I just can't stay away from bling.

For my second card, I really did stick with the DP's I had chosen before coloring the motorcycle. I wanted to keep this card simple and focus on the image. I used my Silver Gel Pen to bring out a "chrome" look to the bike. This image was colored using my SU Markers (didn't have any Tombow's at the time). I like how the sentiment is popping out from underneath the main image. I finished the card off with a few simple brads.

Can I just tell you how excited I am about this Peony set??? My best friend, Kim Teasdale is now illustrating for Clear Dollar Stamps!!! Yeah!!!! She's dreamed about this for so long and to see it become reality is so exciting to be a part of. Not only do I get to be on a design team with Kim, I get to create with her stamps now too!!! Should I tell you added pressure??? Just kidding!!!! All kidding aside - Congrats to you Kim for having your dream come true!

A few weeks ago, I took a class about using Tombow Markers and I'm hooked!!! Thanks Kim (did I mention she teaches classes as well??). I love how this card has shine to it. Kim taught me a clever trick - mix Ranger Gold embossing Powder with Ranger Gold Tinsel embossing powder and you will get an image that sparkles and shines! Too cool eh? I've used a variety of Tombow markers (available at CDS) to color the peony. I'm finding Tombows are so much easier to use than anything I've used in the past. Sooner or later, I'll have them all... I've used Wisteria Basic Grey DP to pull my colors from. I love how there is such a grace and elegance to this card.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Who doesn't want to be a princess? Who didn't dream of it as a little girl??? I know I sure did! All I can say about Rosebud Princess available June 1st from Clear Dollar Stamps is TOO CUTE!!! I'm a girly girl at heart so it speaks to me. For my first card - I simply watercolored the Rosebud Carriage using my SU markers and an Aquapainter. I wanted to keep the focus on this element - so I used very little embellishments otherwise. The panels in the background have all been popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment "Time to Celebrate is a single stamp from CDS also being released this month. Not only is this set great for young girls - I thought the carriage would be great for a wedding shower card or even a wedding card.

My second card uses the mouse from this set as well as the princess sentiment. I wanted to keep the cards in similar tones, so that I could possibly give them away as a set. Once again, I've used my SU markers to watercolor (coming soon will be some samples using Tombow Markers). I used my Long Rectangle Nestabilities for the sentiment which I tucked in behind the ribbon.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Isn't she just so cute??? I love this Changita from Stampendous!!! We all know from a few posts back that I love these little monkeys. I've been so busy getting my CDS Sneak Peeks done that I haven't had time to make anything else once you combine work and life into the mix. I have a few days of down time now so I wanted to play.

I love Mercy's work (mkstampin74) on SCS - she's the featured stamper today. How to choose???? Her work is gorgeous!!!! This is the card I chose to case:Cuppyland

As per the rules - these are the things I've changed: image, ribbon and the ribbon treatment, DP, no piercing, and my half back pearls instead of brads.

Friday, May 15, 2009

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to post any cards. Sorry ladies!!!! Work has been busy and I've been trying to get all of my June Sneak Peek cards done. I'm so excited about them!!!! You'll love what Clear Dollar Stamps is coming out with. When I saw what this week's color challenge for CDS was - I knew I had to play along!

This week's colors are:Old OliveTangerine TangoSo SaffronWhite

Of course this ducky is the first thing that came to mind. The duck is from a set called Cute Critters and the sentiment is from the newly released set Christian Critters Too. What do you think? I actually made a Clean and Simple card. Check out all the white space! I wanted the sentiment to be what stands out on the card. I think I achieved the look I was going for. Hope you like it.

On a side note - make sure you check out Clear Dollar Stamps website. They are now carrying Basic Grey Bling - Rhinestones and Pearls in a variety of colors!!! We all know I love my bling so I have a feeling, I'll be placing an order in the next couple of days. To find them, you can either click on New Product in May on the sidebar or the Basic Grey section on their side bar.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day to all moms!!!!! I thought that this would be an appropriate card for Mother's Day. What can I say? I'm a little bit cheeky ;-) (So I've been told all my life!!!) I picked this Changito up at my local Stamp Store yesterday as I had ordered a bunch in. I must confess...... My name is Angela and I am a Changito addict. Hehehe.... I think they are just the cutest images and fun to color.

I made this card for today's Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS - dbdoodle. This is the card I chose to case called I don't Know. Things I changed include: image, DP, sentiments, ribbon, button shapes.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Do you think that coffee might help me find my mojo??? It's gone missing and I need it back! Yikes!!! I've been in a bit of a stamping funk so I took some time to get other things done and find inspiration. Work has been busy and life has been getting in the way of my time for stamping and cardmaking. Hopefully, I'm back now!

I've always LOVED Changitos and when I saw this one, I knew I had to have it. I swear this is me in the morning some days but for me it's a Mocha I want. I really like that Stampendous is bring the Changitos out in Cling Rubber rather than just wood. (I'm running out of room for stamps). He's just so cute! I've combined him with a sentiment from Amuse that I don't use often enough. I thought this could be a fun card for so many things.

I have been stamping for approximately 5 years and it's my therapy or should I say my addiction!! I love being able to inspire others with my creations. Thanks for popping by! If you have any questions, feel free to email me at scottha@hotmail.com